Sunday, July 31, 2011

Three & out...

1. R-A-U-LLLLLLLLLLL! At various times during the last two years, we have screamed that Raul Ibanez flat out sucks.  But The Man has come to play in 2011 (well, not counting the first two months of the season).  Today, he clubbed two home runs (giving him 17 for the year), as well as a walk-off single in the 10th inning of today's 6-5 win against the Pirates.  Ibanez' two run dinger in the bottom of the 8th inning tied the score.  Great game to watch today.  (Though we bailed for innings 5 and 6, as we got disgusted with Rookie of the Year pitcher Vance Worley).  Nice to see Hunter Pence get a double in the 10th and score the winning run. 

2. Lockout?!?  There was one?!? It seems almost as if the lockout never even happened.  Has there EVER been a more exciting five day period (Tuesday - Saturday) during an off-season?!?  If you love the NFL, this past week as been damn near as entertaining as the playoffs.  No lie.

3. E-A-G-L-E-S ... Eagles!  Eagles!  Eagles! Normally the Philadelphia Eagles are frugal, if not down right cheap when it comes to free agency.  In the aforementioned past week, however, they have gone ALL IN.  Needing help for Trent Cole (as well as the injured Brandon Graham), they signed defensive end Jason Babin (12.5 sacks last season).  Then they dealt Kevin Kolb (resume: 2 good games, 4 bad ones in four years) to Arizona for starting cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft.  With DRC in the fold, 100 percent of the world assumed they were out of the Nnamdi Asomugha Sweepstakes.  WRONG.  They signed him Friday night.  Finally, 24 hours later, they signed signed defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins away from Green Bay.  He will give them their first legitimate inside pass rush since the days of the late Jerome Brown and Reggie White.  (He had 7 sacks in 10 games last year.)  Take a look at this week's Sports Illustrated.   It ranks the top 30 free agents.  Asomugha is 1, Jenkins 3, Babin 7.  That's a frigging QUALITY haul.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Well said...


Friday, July 29, 2011

We went looking for Hunter Pence and came back with ... Nnamdi Asomugha!!!

Wow.  p

Got up around 5:30.  Worked out.  Dropped the dog off for a haircut.  Took the kids Mom's House, where she took them shopping for books and then out to lunch.

We got home around 10:30 and had the house to ourselves until about 2 PM.  We spent the entire time in the home office ("Hobby Box") working and listening to 610 WIP stream on the internet.  We scoured the 'net and Twitter looking for Hunter Pence updates.

Around 4 PM we were watching Guy Fieri on the DVR with The Playmaker when we checked Twitter for a Pence update.  @lesbowen tweeted "Eagles have signed Asomugha to a five year deal.Not believing, we asked The Playmaker, "What's the name of the Raiders DB that everybody wants?"  Not even looking up from the TV, he said, " Nnamdi Asomugha."

We checked the tweet again.

Then turned to The Playmaker with a BIG grin and said, "We got 'em!" And we showed him the tweet.  We immediately hit LIVE and got NFL Network on.  Rich Eisen damn near had wood in his pants he was so excited about the surprise deal.

Wow.  What a day.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Another day, another college star signs with the Eagles!



Note that all many of these highlights came against an Oklahoma defense that featured future NFL Pro Bowl defenders Curtis Lofton and Gerald McCoy.  We were shocked that John Noel Devine was not picked in the NFL Draft.  Despite his small size (5'8" or so), we look for him to make the Eagles roster and deliver some big plays.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Who needs Brett Favre?!?


The Eagles signed Jerrod Johnson.  All 6'5", 255 elle bees of him.  So much for Favre coming to get a cheese steak.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Football is back!

Now, when will Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie land in Philadelphia (along with Ray Edwards)?!?

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Well done...

Nice story.  Click here.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

A fan gets pissed...

The Phillies were on Fox today -- we were doing some stuff around the house and checked in periodically.  We sat down to watch it for good (so we thought) in the sixth inning.  Kyle Kendrick was up, 3-0.  That in itself is utterly amazing.  We view Kendrick as last year's Jamie MoyerWe are truly surprised when he gets through ANY inning without giving up a run.  Right on cue, he walked the Padres pitcher to start the sixth.  The very next pitch was dumped into the left field stands by Cameron Maybin.  One batter later some guy named Chase Headley hit a dinger to tie the game.  It was vintage Kendrick, as Headley had managed ONE other homerun in 93 games this year.

Pissed, we got up and left the room.  The Playmaker stayed behind and continued to watch.

A few minutes later we walked by the living room and noticed Ryan Howard batting.  (He had started the game on the bench because ... well, because he sucks right now.)  We paused to watch and blurted out to The Playmaker, "Watch, he'll strike out."

B-A-M.  He nailed the first pitch to deep center to tie the game.

Russ Gload then doubled, followed by a walk to J-Roll.

Up stepped the immortal Michael Martinez, who tried to bunt the runners over.  The first pitch was in the dirt.  Undaunted, Martinez attempted to bunt and missed by a foot.  The next bunt he fouled off down the left field line.  (Seriously, how is that possible?!?)  Pissed (again), we yelled, "He's the worst hitter in the league!"

Of course, he hit the next pitch out of the park, a 3-run jack.

The Phillies, despite some shaky relief pitching, won, 8-6.  With the Braves losing to the Reds, We are now up six games in the loss column.

Chalk today's win up to positive thinking...

Friday, July 22, 2011

Thank you, goodnight now...

So we put the the two week summer basketball camp to bed today at 3 PM.  And, yes, the temperature broke the 100 degree mark.  We are now sitting in the chilly AC, while a HUMONGO cowboy ribeye is searing on the grill.  And our Avalon pub glass is full of frosty ... wait for it ... ice water.

In the words of Our Man Jay Bilas, bottoms up.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Just saying...

Tired. Hot. And tired again. Nine days of b-ball camp down, one more to go.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

25 years ago...

Found an old VHS tape of a high school basketball game from our senior year.  Classic.  Bushy hair.  Mullet.  Short shorts.  Blue high top adidas with silver stripes.

Wow.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Negative, Ghost Rider...

Yes, it's 11+ minutes. But if you loved the movie Top Gun, this is classic Jim Rome. Hell, if you hated Top Gun, this is a classic take.


Monday, July 18, 2011

Good first day of week 2

Eight points in the afternoon game for The Playmaker on 4-5 shooting, including a sweet 15 footer along the right baseline.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Hey, Rachel Buehler...


Our U9 soccer kids from last fall know how to clear the ball out of the zone.  You, unfortunately, do not.  You lost the game for your team  And the United States of America.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Classic


Friday, July 15, 2011

We love Alex Morgan women's soccer!

Yes, we sure do...

Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Playmaker's Day: Basketball x 2

Four points and five assists in his afternoon camp game.  Now off to an evening AAU basketball game.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

N-I-C-E ...


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

That's how we roll...

We busted our ass working out the last five days (changed weigh-in schedule and, thus, lost a workout day this time around).  Dropped another pound this week.  Fourteen down, nine more to go.  How do we celebrate our hard work?!?  A 2-pound cowboy ribeye.





Monday, July 11, 2011

E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D...

Six hour basketball camp, sandwiched around a double workout (66 & 60 minutes).  Ugh.  Goodnight.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Back to work tomorrow...

No, not school.  Time to run our annual two week summer basketball camp in the town I grew up (and later coached) in many, many years ago.  And, yes, The Playmaker will be attending for the third straight year.  He's actually "legal" this year -- in terms of official age.

Rest assured there will be many updated updates over the next two weeks.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Work in progress...


Working on a project.  Should be unveiled soon.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Effing classic...


This is A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y priceless.  Turn the volume on and listen to Remy and D.O. -- the audio is the best part.  Whip out the HD video camera, because MLB will have this thing taken down by lunchtime at the latest.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Good (Office) news...


James Spader coming next fall.  Says so right here.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Summertime...

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy July 4th

July 4 is usually a relaxing day. We always forgo the local parade and carnival rides. Today we went Bill Simmons and met Our Father for breakfast. After that, we went All First Team Husband and helped The Wife mulch the two front beds. (Banged those out in under an hour.) Watched some of the Sox (break up the Jays!). Did a double workout (66 minutes before dawn, 60 minutes before lunch). Took The Playmaker's Sister to her friend's house for a sleepover. (Can you say in-ground pool?!?) Marinated chicken breasts for dinner. But the most important thing we did today?!? Hung up our new American Flag. We took down the old one the day after Memorial Day and were waiting until today to replace it.

Stay safe. And Happy Fourth of July!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Pretty cool ...



Saturday, July 2, 2011

Friday, July 1, 2011

TGIF...

Good day today.

The Playmaker capped his week at flag football camp with a stellar day. He had two touchdown receptions (both long bombs) in a playoff loss. At the award ceremony at the end of camp, he was named CAMPER OF THE WEEK -- an award that came with a sweet gray and red adidas jacket. We were completely unaware he was getting the award. Luckily we had our camera in hand to capture the moment.

After that we came home (not before stopping at Dunkin' Donuts for a celebratory Captain America red, white & blue Coolata) and watched Nadal kick the crap out of Andy Murray. During commercials we flipped to the Phillies - Blue Jays game. Phillies got 2 in the 9th to win, 7-6.

Then we ... wait for it ... took a nap for a solid hour. Feeling refreshed, we put The Playmaker through his Tim Grover 45 minute basketball workout. Lastly, we cooked pizza on the grill for dinner.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July Weekend!